Shadow Business Secretary supports National Freelancers Day

The day organised by IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, is the UK’s biggest celebration of the millions of people working independently across the country.

Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna, MP, said, “In recent years we’ve seen more and more people starting out on their own and setting up independently. For many, this can be the best route for people to realise their aspirations and dreams. But there are still many challenges facing self-employed people which must be tackled such as bureaucracy and late payment, while at the same time self-employed people have seen their income fall more in the last four years than those in employment.

“I am a big supporter of National Freelancers Day, which shines a spotlight on Britain’s independent professionals and the huge contribution they make to UK PLC, and I hope November 19 this year continues to raise the profile of freelancers in Britain.”

National Freelancers Day will see celebrations of self-employed professionals across the country, with a headline evening event in the heart of London’s Tech City. The event will showcase the important work of self-employed people from across the UK in a wide range of sectors and will also see a panel of politicians, freelancers and business experts discussing the rise of freelancing and its implications on policy making for the next Government.

Simon McVicker, director of policy and external affairs at IPSE, said, "As more and more people opt for the flexibility of working independently, this year’s National Freelancers Day will be bigger than ever. It’s fantastic that the Shadow Business Secretary is backing the day and it’s greatly encouraging that he understands the huge contribution freelancers make to the economy year on year.”